The Labor enquirer., 1887-09-24

Of tho birth of ths 'fatksr of Ids country
TO view the situation Of pablic affairs and
advise proper action. 4 general discon-
tent prevails ON the part Of the wealth
producers. Farmers are suffering from
poverty which has forced most of them
TO mortgage their estates, and prices of
produce are so low as to offer no relief
except through bankruptcy. Laborers
are sinking into greater and greater de-
pendence. Strikes are resorted to with
out relief, because Of the inability of en-
pioyers in many cases to pay living wages.
while more and more are driven into the
streets. Business men find collections al
most impossible, meantime hundreds of
millions Of idle public money which is
needed for relief is locked up in the
United States treasury in grim mockery
OF the distress; land monopoly fourishes
as never known before, and more and
more owners of the soil are daily becom-
ing tenants. Great transportation corpo-
rations still succeed in extorting their
profits upon watered stock through unjust
charges. The United States senate has
become an open scandal, its seats being
purchased by the rich in open defiance of
the popular will. triAing fisheries dis
pute is seized upon as an excuse for nec-
essary military preparations which are
designed to breed spirit of war, to ape
European despotisns, and to empty the
treasury without paying the public debt.
Under these and other alarming condi-
tions we appeal to the people of the
whole country to come out of. the old
party organizations, where indifference
to the public welfare is responsible for
this distress, and help US to organize a
new political party, not sectional but ma
tional, whose members shall be called
commoners, whose object shall be to re-
peal all class laws in favor of the rich, and
to relieve the distress Of our industries
by establishing the following principles:
l. Land-Every human being possesses
natural, inalienable right to sufficient
land for self support, and we desire to Sc
cure to ever industrious citizen home as
the highest result of free institutions. To
this end we desire a graduated land tax
on all land estates, especially those held
| for speculative or tenant purpose; the re-
claimation of all unearned land grants;
the immediate opening of Oklahoma to
homestead settlements the purchase of
all unoccupied Indian lands, and the set
tlement of the various tribes in severalty;
also laws preventing corporations from
acquiring real estate beyond the requir-
ments of their business, and alien owner
ship of land. The system of irrigation,
in states and territories where necessary,
shall be under such public control as shall
secure the free and equitable use of the
waters and franchises to the people.
2 TranspOrtatiOn-The means of COM
manication or transportation should be
controlled by the people, as is the United
States postal system, and equitable rates
everywhere established.
3. Money-The establishment of ma
tional monetary system IN the interest of
the producer instead of the speculator
and usurer by which a circulating medium
in necessary quantity and full legal ten
der, shall he issued directly to the peo.
pie, without the Intervention ct banks, on
loaned to citizens upon ample security at
"a lot rate of interest TO relieve them from
the extortions of usury and enable them
to control the money supply. Postal sav
ings banks should be established. While
we have free coinage of gold, we shonld
have free coinage of silver. We demand
the prompt payment of the national debt
and condemn the further issue ofinterest-
bearing bonds, either by the national gov.
eminent, or by states, terri, ories, counties
On municipalities.
| 4. Labor-Arbitration should take the
place of strikes and other injurious meth
DDS of settling laber disputes; the letting OF
convict labor to contractors be prohibited
the contract system be abolished in pub.
JIG works; the hours of labor in industrial
establishments be reduced commensurate
with the increase of production in labor
Saving machinery, employees to be pro
tected from bodily injury, equal pay be-
ing given for equal work for both sexes,
and labor, agricultural and cooperative
associations be favored and Incorporated
iby law. The foundation, of republic is
the intelligence of its citizens, and chil
dren who are driven into workshops,
mines and factories are deprived of edu-
j,cation which should be secured by proper
Legislation We desire tO,see labor organ
I,izations extend throughout all civilized
countries, until it shall be impossible fer
Isdespots to array the workingmen of me
country in war agsinst their brothers of
nnother country.
g. Soldiers and Sailors-In appreeia-
tion of the services of United States sea-
6iers and sailors we demand for them jus
tice before charity. The purposely de-
preciated money paid them during the
var should be made equal IN value to the
gold paid the bondholder. The soldier
was promised gold or its equivalent and
was paid in depeeciatsd paper. The bond
holder loaned the goMernmeEt deprecated
paper and contracted to take it back, but
was paid in gold
6. Income Taxa graduated income
is the most equitable system of taxation,
placing the burden Of government ON
those who can best afford to pay, instead
of laying it ON the farmers and producers,
and exempting millionaire bondholders
and corporations.
Z. United States Senste-The capture
of the United States senate by million
aires and and tools of corporations who
have no sympathy with free institutions,
threatens the very existence of the repub-
lie. We demand constitutional amend
nent making United States senators elect
i've by direct vote Of the people.
8. Chilese-State and national laws
should be such as shall effectually exclude
from America the Mongolian slaves and
Asiatic competition.